Outer Banks Vacation #1
I wanted to share our vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Tim’s mother wanted to take us and won a trip at auction. We spent a week, June 10 - 17, in Kill Devil Hills at Station One Condos, Mile Post 8.5 on S Virginia Dare Trail, also known as Beach Road. It was my first time and was really looking forward to the beach and fun sites.
Sunday, June 10, we drove from Jan’s house in Richmond, VA. It turns out we drove through Norfolk, so we stopped to visit Tim’s step-brother recently returned from Iraq. We arrived in KDH and walked up to the beach at the closest public access before hitting the grocery store. Jan had a child’s excitement for being able to see and visit the ocean.
Monday, June 11, Tim and I just wanted to rest. After traveling, I wanted to wind down before running around. Tim had caught a cold from Sara Ellen and was pretty miserable. Our condo had a selection of children’s videos and I chose Cinderella for the morning. Jan was pretty antzy to start her beach vacation so she headed out for a walk and came back later with a rented bike so she could get out if she wanted (she never did). Sara Ellen and I hung at home, playing and napping together. Around 4, I was ready to get out. Jan took Sara Ellen to the beach and I wanted to drive around our area. I found a cool store called Parrot Bay. It has lots of beachwear and gifts. Jan wasn’t sure how long Sara Ellen would want to play on the sand so I came back 30 minutes later and as my baby was happy, we hung out. Before going home, we went to American Pie and brought back what was an awesome pizza. I think we watched “Finding Neverland” that evening.
Tuesday, June 12 we took a drive to explore the attractions near and far. We past Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head and drove south as far as Rodanthe (”e” not pronounced). I learned that pirates used to hang a lantern on the neck of a horse (nag) to lure ships ashore for plundering. We stopped at Chicamicomico Living Saving Station Museum on our way north, but Jan did not find a person to pay for admission so we kept going. We did stop for a walk on a dune hoping to get to the ocean but it was farther off than it sounded. We also stopped at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. It’s not open for climbing but the keepers home is open as a museum and gift shop. After dinner we went back to Jockey’s Ridge and enjoyed an awesome sunset. We watched “Pan’s Labyrinth” - very cool.
Wednesday, June 13. Happy 27th Birthday Tim! We celebrated Tim with gifts at breakfast. Unfortunately, the girls spent the morning at home while Tim took the van in for service. The ABS system was not working because something had fallen off. I had given Tim season’s 1 and 2 of Stargate SG-1 and watched the original movie to show Jan the beginning. He came back around noon with a rental. We had some lunch and were able to visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island before heading to Corolla for Jeep off-roading, Tim’s gift to himself. It was a fun ride. Sara Ellen and I sat in the back and made sound effects for the bumps. I had to hide my sub sandwich to keep the flying sand out and Sara Ellen made a happy mess while eating doritos. The jeep had a GPS that showed a trail so we wouldn’t get lost. We weren’t supposed to drive in the water but we did to keep going and follow the trail. We drove through a quiet sand-only neighborhood and saw one wild horse. With all the bouncing around, Sara Ellen actually fell asleep.
Thursday, June 14 we had us-only time. We went up the road to the Wright Brother’s Memorial. Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first controlled flight in 1903 in Kitty Hawk. It was on Kill Devil Hill, but now it is a self-named town separate from Kitty Hawk. You will not find any mention of KDH in the National Air and Space Musuem gallery dedicated to the brother’s. We got our van back, had a less-than-great lunch at Bob’s Grill, and went home for a nap. In the late afternoon, we dropped off Jan at her location, and visited the Front Porch Cafe. I got a nice chai late and a banana nut muffin. Tim also got a snack and set up to use their free Wi-Fi. Sara Ellen and I also visited the neighboring shops, the fashionable Little Grass Shack and souvenir-laden candy shop. At LGS, Sara Ellen entertained the likely bored employee by admiring herself in a mirror wearing their sunglasses. We found Jan, made our second grocery run and then Tim and I spent probably 20 minutes in Movie Gallery trying to agree on a dvd. We eventually (did not agree on mind you) rented “Ghost Rider” (soo cheesy) and bought a previously-viewed copy of “Sahara”. Our cashier was a little confused and we were able to get four bags of popcorn and a free bowl. The original deal was the popcorn, candy, soda, rentals, and then the free bowl!
Friday, June 15 - We had breakfast out at Stack ‘em High Pancakes at my suggestion. It was really good. I had a “blue monkey” blueberry pancakes with bananas on top.
We drove to Cape Hatteras and Tim and I climbed the lighthouse. There are also museums made from the houses of the keepers. Children under a certain height are not allowed to climb and they cannot be carried or worn. It’s a good rule too, it’s a long, narrow climb.
We had planned on taking a ferry to Ocracoke Island but it was too windy. We had lunch nearby at Buxton Munch Company. It was a yummy hippee joint. Jan and I browsed next door at Ocean’s Notions. After getting home, Tim and I went on a date to see Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. We watched Rent that evening. Though it was very well done, I did not enjoy this musical.
Saturday, June 16 - We went back to Jockey’s Ridge earlier in the day and visited with the family of Jan’s friend during a kite festival. At lunchtime we drove to Roanoke Island and lunched at Big Al’s Soda Shop. We then thoroughly enjoyed the Elizabethan Gardens. I got to meet the Queen!
Sunday, June 17 we cleaned up and were out by 10 am on the dot, per the rental agreement. We headed home and tarried at Jan’s house for a while. Tim and I played with photos and rested while Jan hung out with Sara Ellen. We didn’t get home until 10 because we made several u-turns to find dinner and sat in a little traffic on I-95.
I’m really looking forward to making another Outer Banks trip, now that I know where things are and what is interesting to see.
That sounds great! It sounds like you had such a nice relaxing time, I can’t wait for Armon and I to take our vacation.